Rapidly Declining Lake Levels Trigger Drought Level One

SAN ANGELO, TX -- The City of San Angelo now has less than a two year supply of water and council members Tuesday will vote to enter drought level one restricting water usage and increasing water rates.  

According to a report to the council, the water conservation and drought contingency plan includes trigger points for three different drought stages.  Level one kicks in when the city has a 24 month water supply, level two kicks in when there is an 18 month supply remaining, and the most extreme level starts when the city has less than 12 months water supply remaining.  In addition, water rates increase by a minimum of five percent for residential customers who use more than 2,000 gallons per month and all commercial customers.

The report says the Colorado River Municipal Water District projects O.H. Ivie water will be available to the city until August of 2019 and then the city will be dependent on groundwater from the Hickory Aquifer and local lakes which is projected to last until July of 2020.

If the drought persists to that point and the city is totally dependent on the Hickory Aquifer, there’s not enough water in the aquifer to meet the city’s needs.  

The report says the criteria for entering drought stage one are met.  Under drought level one, outside watering is limited to once a week from now until Oct. 31 and once every two weeks from Nov. 1 to March 31.     

Also at Tuesday’s city council meeting, the council will meet in closed session to discuss city farm leases and to consult with the city attorney regarding water rights and contracts at Lake Nasworthy and operating the Santa Fe Golf Course.  The lease of the city farm acreage east of the city where the waste water ponds are located. The Santa Fe Golf Course is irrigated using city water.

The San Angelo City Council meets in regular session at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday morning in council chambers at the McNease Convention Center.  The meeting is open to the public.